Lake Regional Health System | Thrive | Spring 2020

8 | Spring 2020 HEART HEALTH H igh blood pressure is a serious condition — having it can boost your risk of major complications, like heart attacks and strokes. High blood pressure is also a sneaky condition — it usually has no symptoms. That’s why it’s crucial to know where you stand by getting regular blood pressure checks and following a treatment plan, if needed. But according to Anton Kosov, M.D., there’s something else you can do to pro- tect yourself from high blood pressure’s potentially serious consequences: You can take steps to prevent the condition in the first place. “It helps to know a little about what puts you at risk,” says Dr. Kosov, who practices internal medicine at Lake Regional Clinic – Laurie. What makes blood pressure rise? Certain things are more likely to make your blood pres- sure rise and stay elevated throughout time. “Age is a risk factor,” Dr. Kosov says. “Simply getting older increases your odds of developing high blood pressure.” Other factors that can raise your risk for high blood pressure include your family health history and your ethnic background. Obviously, those things are beyond your power to change. But other factors can affect blood pressure, too, like what you eat and how much you exercise, along with your other everyday health habits. Those you do have the power to change. Know your risk Anton Kosov, M.D. Blood pressure